President William Ruto has issued a rallying call for fairness in Kenya’s creative industry, emphasizing the need to address systemic injustices that have left musicians and creatives underpaid and undervalued. Speaking during the 61st Jamhuri Day celebrations, the President underscored the vital role artists play in shaping Kenya’s cultural identity and economy.
“Musicians who are the heartbeat and soul of our culture have long been denied their rightful earnings,” President Ruto said, acknowledging the grievances of artists who have endured years of exploitation. He cited cases where some musicians earn as little as KSh. 10,000 annually, while organizations tasked with collecting royalties pocket millions each month.
This speech comes amidst mounting frustrations from Kenyan artists over the opaque practices of the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK). The organization has faced widespread criticism for mismanagement and lack of transparency in royalty distribution.
Longstanding Grievances
In 2023, celebrated Kenyan boy band Sauti Sol threatened to sever ties with MCSK, citing dissatisfaction with its royalty distribution model. The band’s lead vocalist, Bien-Aime Baraza, publicly expressed outrage after receiving only KSh. 14,000 in royalties despite being Spotify’s most-streamed Kenyan artist.
“We are going to withdraw our membership from MCSK as it does not serve our best interests entirely,” Sauti Sol declared in a statement, urging other artists to follow suit.
Their frustrations mirror those of other prominent musicians, including award-winning rapper Khaligraph Jones. In 2020, Jones released a diss track aimed at MCSK, collaborating with fellow artists and public figures to spotlight the organization’s inefficiencies. The song criticized the society’s failure to pay artists adequately while calling for structural reforms.
An audit conducted in 2020 corroborated these claims, uncovering issues such as royalty diversions, poor corporate governance, fraudulent transactions, and ghost memberships. These findings further fueled calls for accountability and reform within the sector.
Presidential Intervention
President Ruto’s remarks resonate with the aspirations of Kenya’s creative community, which has long yearned for a transparent royalty system. “The Kenya Copyright Board, in conjunction with industry players and e-Citizen, must establish a transparent real-time system for royalty collection and distribution to rightful owners and beneficiaries,” he asserted.
This directive aligns with the Kenya Kwanza government’s commitment to positioning the creative sector as a pillar of economic growth. By addressing the systemic exploitation of artists, the government seeks to empower creatives to fully benefit from their talent and contributions.
The proposed real-time system would ensure artists receive fair compensation while eliminating loopholes that enable misuse of funds. Such a system would also restore trust in regulatory bodies like the Kenya Copyright Board and MCSK.
A Step Toward Justice
President Ruto’s speech highlights a pivotal moment for Kenya’s music and creative industries. By calling for justice and transparency, the government is taking steps to safeguard the livelihoods of artists who have long been exploited.
The creative sector, once overlooked, is now at the forefront of Kenya’s economic strategy, with renewed focus on its potential to create jobs, boost tourism, and export Kenyan culture to the world.
As the government works to implement these reforms, it must prioritize accountability and inclusivity to ensure that every creative whether a musician, actor, or writer can thrive. This will not only rectify historical injustices but also lay the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable creative economy.
The call for justice, amplified by President Ruto, reflects the collective voice of Kenya’s artists. It signals a turning point where musicians and creatives can finally look forward to a fair and rewarding future.
